The pursuit of happiness; what philosophers and psychologists can tell us about being happy.
Our lives are spent in the pursuit of happiness. Centuries ago, philosopher Aristotle said, "Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence." Many of us chase happiness by acquiring material goods, but scientific studies support the age-old saying that "money doesn't buy happiness." Psychologists David Myers and Ed Diener find that, "Happiness grows less from the passive experience of desirable circumstances than from involvement in valued activities and progress toward one's goals."
What Is Happiness?
Positivity psychologists Robert Biswas-Diener and Ben Dean define happiness as "the experience of frequent, mildly pleasant emotions, the relative absence of unpleasant feelings, and a general feeling of satisfaction with one's life."
Psychologist Tal Ben-Shahar, in his book Happier, defines happiness as "the overall experience of pleasure and meaning." Ben-Shahar describes happiness as the ultimate currency, the end to which all other ends lead, and he says happiness is the indicator by which we measure our lives.
For most of us, happiness is that pleasant feeling we get when life is good. The happiness emotion might be anywhere in the range of feelings from contentment to joy, but we know it when we see it, and we like it.
The Art of Happiness
Psychologist Martin Seligman, author of Authentic Happiness, defines a formula for happiness:
H = S + C + V,
where S is one's happiness set point, C constitutes one's life circumstances, and V is a factor representing a person's voluntary activities. S, a combination of genetic disposition and cultural upbringing, is largely out of our control. C, one's life circumstances, may also be difficult to change.
But V is where we have total control and opportunity. The activities in which we engage and the ways we choose to think about our lives offer each of us the opportunity for greater happiness. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us."
Being Happier
Psychologists suggest that happiness is not a destination, but a process. Rather than viewing life as a period of necessary hardship and struggle with the promise of happiness at retirement or beyond, we can reasonably strive to find happiness every day of our lives.
Tal Ben-Shahar suggests that we not ask ourselves if we're happy, but that the better question is "How can I become happier?" This implies there is always the possibility for greater positive feelings, confirming the spiritual teachings of Abraham, urging us to continuously reach for a better feeling in order to attract the good things of life.
Successful Pursuit of Happiness
Succeeding at being happier requires a combination of positive thinking and positive choices. Positive thinking is choosing to hold onto hope, to be optimistic about the future, and to seek the opportunities within every situation. Positive choices involve the conscious intent to engage in activities known to include both pleasure and meaning.
If you liked this article, be sure to read:
Positive Psychology and Happiness
Positive Attitude and Affirmations
The Astonishing Power of Emotion
